So it is mainly the officials' fault. Unreal.
http://www.kfdm.com/articles/ozen-45985-players-lamarque.htmlBISD releases statements about Ozen-La Marque post-game brawl
November 29, 2011 7:20 PM
Scott Lawrence
From BISD:
To: All Concerned
From: Rodney Saveat, BISD Athletic Director
Subject: LaMarque vs. Ozen Football Postgame Incident
Date: November 29, 2011
Attachments - memos from Coach Nelson and Mr. Jackson
The following report completes my investigation regarding the postgame regional playoff contest on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Baytown Stallworth Stadium where an altercation occurred between the Beaumont Ozen and LaMarque football teams. After an examination of all the resources available to me at this time, including, but not limited to interviews with Ozen Head Coach Jeff Nelson and his coaching staff who were present at the time of the incident; interviews with the Ozen football team; a telephone discussion with the secretary of the Houston Football Officials Chapter; written eyewitness statements from administrators on duty; careful review and analysis of video footage and photos, I find the following:
1. From start to finish, the game was not effectively controlled by the officials responsible for calling the game. As the head athletic administrator on duty, present on the sideline throughout the entire contest, I was witness to various degrees of unsportsmanlike conduct (verbal taunting, late hits after the whistle, etc.). This inappropriate conduct by LaMarque players started in pregame warm-ups and never addressed by the officiating crew.
2. The lack of controlling the unsportsmanlike conduct early on likely contributed to an incident that took place in the 4th quarter. It involved a LaMarque player punching an Ozen player. This action occurred on the Ozen sideline after the LaMarque player was forced out of bounds. [the incident is described in further detail in the attached statements/reports]. Ozen coaches immediately intervened to ensure there was no retaliation for the opposing players' actions and to ensure the situation did not further escalate. Within a few seconds, however, more than two dozen LaMarque players cleared their bench/sideline area and charged some 50 yards across the field to the Ozen sideline where they engaged in a verbal and physical confrontation with the Ozen players and personnel [see also attached photos]. The two teams were eventually separated and the LaMarque players were returned to their sideline area. The game was briefly delayed as the officials ejected one of the LaMarque players and assessed a penalty to another. However, the official never fully addressed the bench-clearing act by the LaMarque team. The remaining minutes of the final quarter were played without further physical incident, although some taunting between the teams still continued. I, along with the other coaches on the Ozen sideline, instructed our students to remain focused on the game and to not engage in or pay attention to the negative comments.
3. Since there were no further incidents, at the conclusion of the game, both teams lined up to shake hands as a gesture of good sportsmanship. I, as the athletic director, along with the Ozen coaching staff, other BISD administrators and district police officers, lined up with the Ozen players to make sure the student-athletes shook their opponents' hands and monitored the exchange closely to ensure there was no incident while doing so. LaMarque players lined up as well, but did not have the same level of supervision by their coaching staff or administrators while moving through the line. Despite this, both teams moved through the line and shook hands successfully.
4. At the conclusion of the handshake, LaMarque players appeared to have not been instructed properly on which direction they should precede to exit the field. As such, many of the LaMarque players began crossing through the line of the Ozen players. Shortly thereafter, the unfortunate altercations between the two teams ensued. While it is yet to be determined, who initiated the first contact, several players from both teams began trading physical blows. The coaching staff and administrators on the field from both schools worked to take charge of the situation. Due to helmets being swung which could have caused serious injury and other acts of violence, police officers moved into place to assist in physically restraining players. Some police discharged pepper spray to help regain control. Athletes, coaches and administrators alike were doused with the spray in an effort to break up the incident and get the students off the field. No fans, parents or spectators were on the field.
5. This was an extremely unfortunate incident to occur and it is regretful that any of our student-athletes were involved in the situation. Certainly, these actions are not representative of "who we are" or what our athletic programs are about at Ozen High School or in the Beaumont Independent School District.
6. Our student-athletes are recognized representatives of their school as well as the district and are charged with the responsibility to demonstrate the highest levels of character at all times. Many of the players made a good choice and did not get involved in the incident. Those players who lacked proper judgment and chose to participate in acts of misconduct will be held accountable for their actions. Based upon their degree of involvement, students will receive school-based disciplinary action in accordance with district policy along with counseling to better equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent future incidents.
7. Further, all district coaching staffs and student-athletes will receive resources and guidance on how to properly handle contentious situations in regard to their roles, rights and responsibilities.
Thank you for your time in reviewing this report.
TO: UIL
(Copy-Rodney Saveat & James Broussard)
FROM: Coach Jeff Nelson, Ozen Panthers
DATE: November 29, 2011
SUBJECT: Following up on the Ozen vs. LaMarque football game held Saturday
On behalf of the Beaumont Ozen Panthers' football team and coaching staff, we would like to offer a sincere apology for our participation in the unfortunate event that occurred after the LaMarque vs. Ozen game, Saturday, November 26, 2011. We have investigated the matter and have identified players whom did not show restraint during the incident. The misconduct of these students will be handled in accordance with the district's Student Code of Conduct. I assure you that the unsportsmanlike behavior, whether incited or not, will not be tolerated within our program. Additionally, we will take steps to ensure that our students receive counseling and continuing character education to help prevent such incidents in the future.
Further, I would like to make mention the ejection of LaMarque player #14 during Saturday's game, which, after a thorough review of game film, was an error on behalf of the officiating crew. The person involved in the sideline issue was LaMarque player #9. I do believe this was one of a few incidents in which the gaming officials did not adequately monitor (control) the game between these two teams; which in my opinion encouraged the negative talking and other incidents after the whistle.
Again, I do apologize on behalf of my team and staff for our involvement in this very unfortunate incident.
Coach Jeff Nelson
Head Coach and Campus Coordinator
Clifton J. Ozen High School
TO: Rodney Saveat
Director Athletics - Beaumont ISD
FROM: Ron Jackson
Asst. Director Athletics - Beaumont ISD
DATE: 11-27-11
RE: Varsity Football Game Ozen vs. La Marque 11-26-11
On Saturday during the football game in the fourth quarter the outside receiver (#9) for La Marque positioned on the right side of the La Marque offense after the play was over in a violent way pushed the left cornerback for Ozen. This incident happened on the sideline in front of the Ozen bench in front of Ozen coaches, players, administrators and the sideline official. Immediately the official on that sideline threw his flag and the coaches turned to Ozen sideline to check and secure any response from the Ozen players located on their sideline. While the coaches, along with the Athletic Directors, Principal and other administrative staff located on the field controlled the emotions with the players from Ozen on their sideline I turned and noticed La Marque players from their bench from the other side of the field running over to Ozen sideline to get involved, it seemed as if all the players from La Marque bench came over to the Ozen sideline to confront Ozen players or coaches. After noticing the players from La Marque, I saw all the police officers running behind the La Marque players to get control of the situation and get La Marque players back to their sideline. After the police officers got the La Marque players back to their sideline the game officials met and notified the Head Coach from Ozen, along with Mr. Saveat (Athletic Director) that #14 was ejected from the game. The officials also called a 15 yard penalty against #9 for La Marque's for unsportsmanlike conduct.
After the game, the two teams lined up to shake hands, facing the home sideline--Ozen on the left and La Marque on the right. Police officers, coaches and administrators were in position to monitor both teams while they were in line to shake hands after the game. Ozen players, coaches, trainers and cheerleaders (since they were on the left side of the line facing the home sideline shaking hands) turned back to the left to go to their dressing room and that's when I noticed that at the end of La Marque's line, instead of turning the opposite direction to their left to avoid going through Ozen team again, players from La Marque turned right and started walking in the direction to walk toward and through the Ozen football team that had already shaken their hands. I had a few number of Ozen football players with me in this area, therefore, I instructed them to stop and allow the La Marque football players to walk in front of them to avoid any controversy. However, I noticed the football players from La Marque walking through making hand gestures and talking noise towards the Ozen players. I told the players to ignore them and be the bigger men and that's when I turned and saw a player back in the middle of the pack tap a player from Ozen to get his attention. The two football players then faced up to one another and the player from La Marque (#8 or #6) pushed the player from Ozen first. The two started to wrestle and all the players started approaching one another from both sides. During the process of trying to restrain Ozen football players, I saw La Marque football players throwing helmets and kicking one player from Ozen that was on the ground. After getting hit on the ground, that player from Ozen got up and ran after the La Marque football players and an officer grabbed him, threw him to the ground and pulled out his pepper spray and sprayed toward my area with Ozen players present to try and gain control of the situation. For about 30 seconds, which seemed longer, coaches, police officers and administrators grabbed and instructed players to get to their dressing rooms.
